Don’t let minority map your future

Newmarket Era
Jan. 16, 2014
By Debora Kelly

The games have officially begun.

They actually began before the campaign bell rang Jan. 2 to start this year’s municipal election race. It’s apparent some politicians have been taking action and making decisions - or not - with a mind to the ballot box they’ll face Oct. 27.

There is a little more posturing, grandstanding, explaining and blaming than usual. Or so we think, anyway.

Even an unusually nasty act of nature, which sparked resilience, empathy, co-operation and fellowship among most humans, became an opportunity to score political brownie points or rake a little muck.

When democracy becomes focused on politicking, and when it typically turns negative, many of us fair citizens turn away, our disengagement due to a range of feelings from disgust to boredom.

Our disillusionment is only fostered by the perception re-election is the overriding motivation for all actions.

With voter turnout rates overall at a historic low point, loyal readers will know York Region Media Group wants to turn the tide this municipal election with a civic engagement project aimed at boosting turnout to at least 50 per cent in our nine municipalities.

The goal of our Big 5-0 Project may be optimistic if not delusional in Richmond Hill, which had the lowest turnout in the last election at 28.8 per cent, or not exactly ambitious in King Township, with the highest 2010 turnout of 49.9 per cent - but we’re going for it.

Municipal elections consistently interest only about one third of York’s eligible voters.

Turnout was 38.5 per cent in Aurora, 37.5 in East Gwillimbury, 32.6 per cent in Newmarket, 35 per cent in Georgina, 45 in Whitchurch-Stouffville, 35.5 per cent in Markham and 40.5 per cent in Vaughan.

While our municipalities are also working to boost participation by offering online voting and more advanced polls, for example, we will try harder to make you aware of the impact local politicians have over our lives in providing a vast array of services - or not - and wielding a hefty power of taxation and fees.

We hope to get you engaged early in positive debate about how we can make our communities better.

Citizens on our Community Links groups are compiling council report cards and will join us and other community partners in hosting events, including ones for youth and first-time voters, in the months ahead.

In the last year, we’ve seen the level of civic engagement skyrocket as a result of contentious issues, including the proposal to build a NHL-sized arena in Markham with municipal support and have Vaughan considered as a location for casino.

Proposals for high-density development - this is our future, by the way - have filled council chambers with citizens, including those fighting Slessor Square in Newmarket and an affordable housing project in Richmond Hill.

We don’t have to tell these residents the decisions councillors make can affect our lives dramatically, from a new condo looming over your back yard to your tax dollars being committed to projects you feel are doomed to fail.

An upcoming series will explore issues such as development, taxes and accountability, but we need to hear what matters to you as well as your ideas for getting neighbours involved.

Don’t let the minority of the community continue to make the decision for you. We hope all of you will get interested, get involved, get informed and get out and vote Oct. 27 - it’s crucial we have the right people at the table in the next four years as we grapple with the challenge of provincially mandated urban growth.